COUTS

CALIFORNIA'S COUTS COUSINS
VOLUME 2 August September October NUMBER 7
1999

~LETTER FROM JAMES ARMSTRONG
January 4, 1999

Dear Mrs. Evans, Greetings from Tennessee
and may I take this opportunity to wish for
you and yours a happy and successful year.
Barbara, the legendary generosity of Mr. John
Couts, Sr. was well known by his neighbors
and friends. Being a man of his word, he tried
to live up to that word not realizing that in an
instance of consent, his word would carry authority
for more than one hundred years. He had no
way of knowing that future owners of this farm
would be involved by his promise (this included
my uncle and father).During 1796-1820, main
roads in Robertson County were not too defined.
The countryside was filled with trails and narrow
roads leading from farm to farm or to some village.
(At this time in history inhabitants had little time to
travel, being busy clearing land of trees and
concerned about their existence.)
In the early years there was no government public
works for the county secondary roads and if one
needed a road built, that person built it. The network
of small roads built by individuals had to be
maintained by them. Around 1815, Mr. John
planned and built a wagon road from his home
across Sulphur Fork Creek and through the middle
of the sixty acres he owned (once owned by
Euphrateous Benton) to the newly developed pike
linking Springfield and White House (named for the
White House Inn, located on the Nashville-Louisville
Pike). By building a private road the distance and
time spent going and coming to and from Springfield
was shortened by one hour. A great convenience for
a man of his age, who in his last years spent a great
deal of time in the Robertson County Courthouse.
When Mr. John purchased this farm, he found a wide
path or trail leading through the middle of the tract to
the place where he built his home. By joining this new
road to the old road there was now a completed road
through all his land. (I use this old section of road
to my home.) You might have guessed already, neighbors
and friends sought permission to travel this short cut.
At first there was only a few seeking consent, but in
time unknown strangers were using the road. (I can
imagine the frustration he must have felt with this
unwanted traffic (This is what my uncle and father also felt).
Mr. John and other owners kept all kinds of livestock
and gates were necessary to contain them. Very often
careless travelers forgot to close the gates and
livestock strayed from home.
During Jackson's [Couts] lifetime and future owners
attempted to solve the road problem but no good
solution was found until the invention of the automobile
(the water in Sulphur Ford Creek was too deep for cars to ford).
Today, the present owner of the sixty acres uses the
Couts road to go and work his land.
With best regards, James S. Armstrong

In a small but uncrowded one-room high school,
amid the rural farmland of Tualatin, Ore. Edna Couts rose
to the head of her class. A class of two.
The only other graduate was her cousin,
a future collegian and formidable student in her own right.
A few years later, Mrs. Couts joined the
11-member faculty of Escondido High School,
where in 1923, she assumed a dual role: a one-
person business teacher and attendance clerk.
Mrs. Couts, who taught at Escondido
High for 41 years, died in her sleep Sunday at
Crest View Manor in Escondido. She was 100.
When she first arrived in Escondido,
Mrs. Couts taught in two classrooms separated
by glass windows-typing on one hand and
shorthand on the other. "She said she would
rather be teaching than doing anything else,"
her niece, Anne von der Mehden. "the only reason
she retired was that she had reached the mandatory
age. She stayed on as a substitute until all the kids
she knew had graduated."
As the faculty and school expanded over
the years, Mrs. Couts often was among the first to
embrace new technology in her classrooms. "She
was always willing to teach new stenography and
introduce new business machine," her niece said.
Upon retiring in 1964, Mrs. Couts was honored
with the Golden Apple award by Channel 10,
which was KOGO-TV at the time.
In 1930, she married Lee Couts, the
great-grandson of Cave Johnson Couts, an
Army lieutenant, civic activist and engineer
who rebuilt the original structure that is the center
-piece of historical Rancho Guajome in North County.
"Edna remembered going to the rancho when it was
still a stopping-off place to rest the party on the way
between San Diego and Los Angeles," her niece said.
Keeping her marriage a secret, because women
educators were discouraged from marrying in those
days, Mrs. Couts and her husband built a home in Mission Hills.
Tall and athletic, Mrs. Couts developed her skills
in golf and joined her husband as a member of the
former La Mesa Country Club, where, at one time
50 cents would cover the cost of 18 holes. Mrs.
Couts drove the Escondido High golf team to their
matches, offering them tips along the way. Later,
as a widow, she lived in a condominium adjoining
Escondido Country Club. "Instead of counting sheep
to get to sleep, Edna would count the number of
golf coursed she played on," her niece said.
Mrs. Couts' nephew, Al Geiberger, became a force
in the 1970's on the Professional Golfers Association
tour. As a golf enthusiast, she attended many of his
tournaments, bringing along his favorite snacks: peanut
butter sandwiches. Geiberger, who suffered from low
blood sugar, would keep them handy as he made his
rounds. One of three golfers in PGA history to shoot
a round of 59 for 18 holes, he accomplished the feat
in 197 in the Danny Thomas Memphis Classic.
Born Edna Alvina Geiberger in Frankfort South Dakota,
Mrs. Couts moved with her family as a child to Oregon.
After graduating from high school, she attended normal
school and taught for a year in a one-room school in
Grassy Pond, Oregon. Eventually, she worked her
way through what is now Oregon State University
before moving to Southern California, where teachers
were in greater demand.
In retirement, Mrs. Couts became a world traveler.
With camera in tow, she visited Japan, South
America, Europe, and Africa, as well as several
areas of the United States. She often was
accompanied by friends, many of them retired
educators. Mrs. Couts never remarried after
her husband, nine years her senior, died in
1950 of hypertension. She is survived by a
sister, Mae McClellan of Salem, Oregon.
No services were scheduled.

INTERNET NEWS

From: "Michael S. Couts" mcouts@clearwater.net
Subject: General Information Date: Thu,
1 Apr 1999 21:58:55 -
Ms. Evans: I just surfed onto the Couts Family Web
Site I am very glad I did. I will be spending the next
few days, when I have the time, digesting all the
information on the site. My name is Michael Scott
Couts, my father was Chalmers Scott Couts Jr. to
Chalmers Scott Couts and Irene LoisCouts (McCarthy).
It is my understanding that my Great Grandfather was
Robert L. Couts. I have in my possession an antique
gold pin that I was told belonged to Cave J. Couts
that he got while he was at West Point. I also have
several family photo albums that have photos that
date back to the late 1800's. I will be going through
them in the foreseeable future and I will make copies
of the ones I can identify and send them to you. My
father, known as Ted, was very interested in the family
history and was very proud of descending
from Cave Couts. I share the same love
for history but, unfortunately, have not had
much time over the years to keep up with
the Couts family. From there I went to the
Sheriff's Dept.ID. In 1987 I accepted the
position of Undersheriff Nevada and in 1994
I was appointed as Chief of Police for the
ID. I have also served on several anti-terrorist
units. If there is any information that you need
on my branch of the family please email me.
I will be more than happy to furnish my mailing
address when requested, but I will be moving
in the next month or so. Sincerely, Mike Couts
[YES, Mike, I would love to have your info, Barb}
From: Randy & Becky Hall trailend@hdo.net
Subject: Couts Hi Barbara, good to hear from
you. Hope you are feeling better. I really enjoyed
what you sent. It sounds like our Chrisley Couts
was pretty busy with George Rogers Clark,
wow! I can see how difficult it would be to
try and prove this line because of the misspellings
of the last name. Thank you for sending the
info. Along I wanted to mention a little history
that my great Aunt had written down, I don't
know if I sent it to you or not. She said
Christopher Wade Couts owned property
in what they called Missouri bottom a few
miles from Big Lake where he farmed. He
made canoes out of logs and went out and
speared fish on Big Lake. Also, one of his
sons Joseph Couts was killed riding a
workhorse home, his foot got hung up and
was dragged to death. Also another daughter
Laura died then his other daughter, my great,
great, grandmother Susan Emily Couts Whitlow
died when her son my great grandfather William
Wordswoth Whitlow was about 9 months old.
S he is buried at Sheridan Cemetery, in Auburn
Nebraska. Christopher Wade Couts, wife,
Evaline Catron Couts suffered a stroke while
cooking breakfast of quail, and died that evening.
This is just a little info. The Big Lake area is around
in Holt Co, Mo. or close to the Nebraska. Did I
tell you the story of Christopher Wade Couts and
my great grandfather Whitlow and Uncle Dan Couts,
coming on the Oregon Trail to Washington, Territory?
I have the story that my Great Grandfather wrote
about their travels. It is really interesting I want to
put in book form and make it available to people
and family who would like a copy. Well, hope to
hear from you soon. One of these days we will
have to meet. Cousin, Becky
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

"The Kupers" jbkuper@cnsinternet.com
Subject: Re: Moon Date: Wed, 12 May 1999
Since someone is interested in this line, I have
sent all I have. Thanks to Alice Walker Raines
who is a descendant of Daniel has provided this
information. I am descended from John's brother,
Robert. Hope this helps. Of course there is more
information in my file is anyone is interested.
Barb I have Daniel Walker Moon in my file:

Newspaper item Sheriff's sale--Leonard W. BEANLAND
in partition, Emily Peoples and husband Wm. H
Peoples, Wm. Moon, Jas. H Moon, Paulina Moon,
Noah Moon, Wm. H. Peoples, Guardian of Robert,
Emily and Paulina G. Moon, minor heirs of Mary Peoples,
deceaased and of Albertus George M. and Wm. M.
Moon, minor heirs of Daniel W. Moon, deceased and
of McCampbell Moore and of Robert H Moore, minor
heirs of John Moore, deceased--against Jasper Moore
v. WILLIAM MOON, b. 1839, Memphis, Tenessee;
d. 1901; m. MARTHA CLAY
HATFIELD; b. 1842; d. 1922. vi. DANIEL WALKER
MOON1, b. 1841, Bradley county, Tennessee; d. 1870; m.
ANNA ELIZA CHAPMAN; b. 1845; d. 1920. vii.
NOAH MOON, b. 1844, Memphis, Tenessee; d. 1888;
m. MARY ELIZABETH AKIN, March 14, 1869,
Morgan Co., MO; b. November 11, 1852; d. September 23.
viii. MARTHA JANE MOON, b. 1848, Morgan Co.,
Missouri; m. JAMES ALLEE. ix. MAC CAMPBELL
MOON, b. 1851, Morgan Co., Missouri; d. 1919; m.
(1) MARY BEAMON; m. (2) VADA BEEMAN.
x.ROBERT HARVEY MOON, b. 1855, Morgan Co.,
Missouri; m. CHARLOTTE CHAPMAN.
3. JOB2 MOON (JASPER1) was born 1813 in Eastern
Tennessee. He married CATHERINE ALLEN March 01, 1835
in Morgan Co., MO. She was born Abt. 1813 in Kentucky.
Children of JOB MOON and CATHERINE ALLEN are:
i. JOHN3 MOON, b. Abt. 1839, Missouri;
m. SARAH; b. Abt. 1834. ii. MARY MOON, b. Abt. 1841,
Missouri. iii. THOMAS MOON, b. Abt. 1843,
Missouri. iv. WILLIAM L. MOON, b. June 30, 1849,
Missouri; d. October 16, 1909; m. MILLIE; b. Abt. 1853
4. ROBERT2 MOON (JASPER1) was born October 10,
1820 in Tennessee, and died June 06, 1899 in Morgan co,
Missouri. He married (1) LUCINDA DRISKEL. She was
born Abt. 1827 in North Carolina, and died Abt. 1861.
He married (2) ELIZABETH HODGES Abt. 1861,
daughter of ABEL HODGES and JANE CAUDEL.
She was born May 03, 1838 in Indiana, and died July 07, 1900
in Morgan Co., Missaouri.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE THE COMPLETED FIVE
PAGES, PLEASE CONTACT ME, BARB
From: "Geary or Leslie Jenkins" geary-leslie@texramp.net
Subject: Willoughby Rose/Charity Barton Hi! My name is
Leslie Jenkins and I'm from Mt. Pleasant, Texas. I haven't
ever done this before and just recently got interested in my
family roots. I have written to several cousins on my father's
side and I received information on the above people. I also
h ave the Family Tree Maker Software program and that is
how I found you. Willoughby Rose and Charity Barton are
my 5xgreat, grandparents with their son Bulford Carroll
being my great, great, great, great grandfather. He was
married to Violet Chapman and they had 10 children and
so on and so forth. Like I said, I'm very new to this and
don't know the correct terms for most of the information.
I would welcome an e-mail from you as Willoughby and
Charity are as far back as I've been. Sincerely, Leslie
Jenkins
From: Immacwgrl@aol.comSubject: KOUTZ FAMILY
Found information in Warrick query archives 1997.
I am a KOUTZ! Born and raised in Warrick County,
Boonville, In. DOB 12-23-53. My father was
William Raabe Koutz.
From: Mstrekken@aol.com Date: Sun, 28 Mar 1999
Are these two Henrys the same man? Sometime I have
more dates and names than I know what to do with!
Thanking you in advance for help. Bonnie <><
1 Johan Heinrich "Henry" Ermentraudt, b. 4/1/1749,
d. cr. 1827 Rock. Co.,VA. m. Augusta (now
Rockingham Co.), VA, Mary Elizabeth Rush cr.
1770 in Rockbridge Co., VA, b. 1752, d. Rockingham
Co., VA 1831. Issue: Johnan "John" Frederick
Ermentraudt b. 1772Charles Armintrout b 1772/73
William Armentrout b. 1775 Jacob Armintrout
b. 1776 George Ermentraudt b. 1777 Malinda Ermentraudt
Henry Armintrout, d. cr. 1827. This info. was from his
will in the Lexington, VA courthouse; WB 6:149 dated
3/4/1826 and probated 3/5/1827. He listed 3 grandsons
(William, Henry and John) in his will and six children.
1810 Census of Rockbridge Co. List Henry

From: ChazTuna@aol.com Subject: Re: Henry Ermentraudt
d. cr. 1827 Rocbridge Co.Mstrekken@aol.com writes:>
Are these two Henrys the same man? Yes, Bonnie
These are the same person. Since I sent you the other
information I have looked at Henry's will. In item 9 he
referrers to a daughter Christeny Unrew. You don't
show Christeny as a child. I have a child Christina,
b: 1 Feb 1777 that married Adam Unrow 14 Mar
1804. This should be on the Descendant's chart
I sent you. Charlie
Name: Arthur C. Kouts Referred by: Just Surfed On
In From: Arizona Time: 1998-11-21 04:05:59
Comments: Born in Arizona, Father born in Colorado,
Grandfather born at Kouts, Indiana 1872. Would like
to hear from you if you can give me more information
on the family.
From: snellinj@ucs.orst.edu Subject: Kautz from Edigheim
Found your site in a search on Hotbot for Edigheim
(Germany). I did not find Edigheim (Pfalz, G
ermany) in the text but I'm sure it is there somewhere.
I am researching the Kautz family this summer in Edigheim,
Pfalz, Germany. My only information is that found in
Frankenthal, Pfalz, Germany (a few miles from Edigheim).
If anyone has connections to the Kautz family in Edigheim
I would be interested in comparing notes. Please e-mail me
Regina KAUTZ born 1724 (transcribed records).
Died 21 July 1784 Married to Johann Christian POHLY
Children: Johann Nikolaus POHLY Johann Christian POHLY
Anna Margaretha POHLY Anna Elizabeth POHLY
I am a descendant of Johann Nikolaus POHLY.
Church books in Frankenthal indicate that Regina Kautz
was from Edigheim. Other sources I am currently waiting
for are: 1. Family History Center microfilm for Edigheim 2.
A book, Die Einwohner von Oppau und Edigheim
(Inhabitants of Oppau and Edigheim). There are 69
pages referenced in the index for Kautz.. I am awaiting
photocopies of the pages from Salt Lake.

HEIDRICH / HEDRICK FAMILY IN AUGUSTA
COUNTY, VIRGINIA

Barb, Nothing new.....just confirmation.
Go to the bottom of the page.
It is the last entry. He may have some other
info though. My daughter md a Hedrick so I am
collecting....... Launa http://members.tripod.com/~
RichardCottrell/Blair.html
Adam Heidrich/Hedrick came to America in
1742 and settled in Lancaster County,
Pennsylvania. This is verified by the following
Ship record: Francis and Elizabeth, 21 Sep
1742, Capt. George North: Passenger-- Johan
Adam Heydrig. Sometime in 1747 Adam
Heidrich along with Jacob Nichols came to
Augusta County, Virginia. Again this is
substantiated by the following records:
Chronicles of the Scottish-Irish Settlement
in Virginia, 1745-1800: Volume 1, Court
Judgements, Page 321: Adam Hetrick, in
1742, living in Pennsylvania... Page 336:
Jacob Nichols and Adam Hetrick in 1747
came to Augusta County from Pennsylvania...
The following is the family of Adam Heidrich:
John married Susan Hornung, Casper, Anna
Elisabetha married John Ermentrout/Armantrout
(22 May 1743 Lancaster Co., PA). John
Armantrout died in 1753 and Elizabetha
married JOHN COUTS. This particular
Heidrich family was associated with the Peaked
Mountain Church at Mill Creek in Augusta
County. These families lived in the vicinity of
Stony Run in Augusta County. Adam Heidrich/
Hedrick was the son of Ender and Christina
(Mueller) Heidrich. In 1779/80 Capt. Peter
Hedrick came from Rowan County, North
Carolina to Augusta County. The following
Tax Record:Augusta: 1784, Capt. Peter
Headrick. Adam and Peter Hedrick were
first cousins once removed. Peter Hedrick's
grandfather Adam Heidrich was a brother to
Ender Heidrich.Email from above From:
"Richard Cottrell"
To: HEDRICK-L@rootsweb.com It is known
that Capt. Peter Hedrick from Rowan Co.,
NC went to Virginia sometime between 1779
to 1785. The record: Tax Record: 1784:
Augusta Co., VA Capt. Peter Headrick
It is common knowledge he went to see relation.
Please visit the web page: http://members.
tripod.com/~RichardCottrell You will find
the kinfolk of Capt. Peter Hedrick.
Subject: Re: Origin of the "Kautz" name
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1999 would like to pass
on some information on the "Kautz" name
that I got about 15 years ago. This information
is not from any official source but from a woman
I worked with in Sandpoint, Idaho who grew
up in pre-WW II Germany. When I first met
her and she asked the spelling of my last name
she immediately said that in German the spelling
was Kautz and translated to "owl". She went
on to tell me that she new some people with the
name of Kautz when she was a child in Germany.
She went onto tell me that in German language
there are a lot of words and names that have
double meanings due to the mixture of the various
languages of the Germanic peoples from the
Prussian Empire, the Austro Hungarian Empire
etc. The Kautz's that she knew were of Prussian
ancestry. In our conversations she never mentioned
the name Kautz being affiliated with "cat".
Unfortunately, the lady moved back east several
months after I met her and never really had a chance
to pick her brain. Again this is just information that
I received from one source. Mike Couts
From: MsKautz@aol.com Subject: Re: Kautz /
Couts Hi Barbara, I'm afraid I won't be any help
to you. Our name is Kautzman. My husband's
ancestors went from Wuerttemburg, Germany to the
Beresan District of Odessa, Russia. They were there
from 1809 until 1899, when they came to the US
through New York, then into North Dakota.
Some stayed in ND, some moved to Yakima,
WA in 1920. My husband, family and I live north
of Seattle, WA.. I do not know the derivation of
the name but I may be able to find someone who
does. I will ask and get back to you. By the way,
are you aware that there is an area in Russia named
Kautz.?? Did any of your Coutz family go to Russia?
I'll get back to you. Marjorie Kautzman
From: "Long, Deborah" DLONG@admin.housing.
uiuc.edu Subject: Couts Barbara, My grandmother
was Elizabeth Couts b: abt. 1849. She lived in
Pennsylvania, but I don't know for sure where
she was born, I think she died in Pennsylvania,
I know she is buried there. She was married to
my gggrandfather, John Frank Cunningham, for
a very brief time 1871-1873. They only had
one son together as far as I know, b: in 1872.
They were divorced 12/1983 and she married
Dallas Ayers in 1974. Was her father Michael
Couts? Do you know more about her parents
and her siblings? I appreciate anything you can
share with me. Thanks, Deb ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

1. who were Pinkney Anderson & Elizabeth
Boone's children ? I think son Thomas m.
Elizabeth Lenn - if so, who were his children?
Who did they marry? Who were Thomas'
g/children? I think son Bailey II m. Priscilla
Abshier - if so, I have his children but who
did they marry? Ethan went to Kansas. Anna
lived Warrick Co & married _____ Lenn.
Who were Anna's children? Who did Bailey
II's other children marry & who were their children?
2. I can prove with legal documents that the
Mary Anderson who married Solomon Vanada
in Warrick County was not the same as Mary
daughter of Bailey Anderson Sr (b. 13 Nov 1753
Va d. 1 Aug 1840 Tx). His daughter Mary "Polly"
remained in Warren Co, Ky & married David
Kirby in 26 Dec 1803 with her brother Joshua
Anderson as security.
3. Joshua Anderson's 1st wife, Elizabeth Couts,
was daughter of Christley Couts Sr & Sarah
Wright. Her mother 2m Capt. William Collins
in Ky. Can anyone tell me when Elizabeth died
(before 1816) or if any of the Couts' who remained
in Warrick County were her siblings or kinfolk?
I am trying to determine if they had children other
than Wyatt & Joshua Jr.
4. Every published source states that the wife
of Bailey Anderson Sr was Mary Wyatt. I have
hundreds of legal family records beginning 1752
& none of them give a 1st or last name for my
double g/mother. I am hoping that perhaps some
Warrick County deed or other document writ-
ten during the time they lived in Warrick Co will
give me her name. Thus far none in Va, SC, KY
or Tx does & everyone I have questioned for their
source of her name said "they got it from someone
else" - isn't proof. My g/mother deserves more
than to be just some unknown entity! I just believe
that every parent is entitled to their own children
and every child is entitled to their own parents. I
have proven by legal document about 60% of what
has been written about my Anderson ancestry is
incorrect. I only want to correctly document and
identify my kinfolk because I love them. Wyatt &
Nancy [McFadin] Anderson are my 4g-g/parents.
Bailey Jr & Elizabeth [McFadin] Anderson are my
3g-g/parents. Please, if you can help me locate
documents, I will gladly pay for copies and postage.
Texas is so far away & I can't afford to travel. Also,
does anyone have a picture of "Bailey's Roost" or the
memorial to Uncle Ratliff Boon? Thank you in
advance, J.K. Upham Ft Worth, Texas Upham
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

DEATH OF COL. CAVE COUTS
a Clarksville, TN Newspaper

Died, in San Louis Rey, Cal. on the evening of
June 10th, 1874, Col. Cave J. Couts, in the 53rd
year of his age. Mr. Couts was the brother of our
esteemed townsman, John F. Couts. We copy the
following biographical sketch from a California paper:
"Colonel Cave Johnson Couts was born in
Springfield Tennessee, in the year 1821. He
sprung from one of the oldest and must respected
families of the South. He was a nephew of Cave
Johnson Postmaster General under President Polk's
Administration. Col. Couts graduated at West
Point Military Academy in the class of 1841.
Among his classmates were General grant, General
Alexander and others who have since distinguished
themselves in the United States army. After leaving
West Point Lieut. Couts was assigned to the famous
old Second Dragoons, which at that time and up to
the time of the breaking out of the
civil war was considered the model regiment
of the army. His first duty in the service was at
Fort Jessup, and net we hear of his taking an
active part in the Mexican war. As soon as the
difficulty with Mexico was settled, he was assigned
to command an escort detachment to the United
States Boundary Commission. Most of the members
of the Commission arrived here via the Isthmus,
but Lieut. Couts' command marched overland,
arriving on this Coast in 1848. he was then stationed
respectively at Los Angeles, San Luis Rey and
San Diego. He obtained the title of Colonel by
reason of holing a commission, with rank of
Lieutenant Colonel, on the staff of the First Brigade,
California Militia, in 1856. Whilst stationed at Old
town he me and wooed Ysidora, daughter of Don
Jose Bandini. Shortly after his marriage to this lady
he resigned his commission and located at Guajome
in this county, where he at once commenced building
his house. colonel Couts, with his young bride, devoted
his time and energy to the improvement of their new
home, and to-day it is perhaps the most beautiful
country seat in Southern California, certainly
in San Diego county, surrounded with its orange
groves and other varieties of semi-tropical trees.
About six months ago it was discovered that
he was suffering from aneurysm of the aorta and
enlargement of the heart, which disease steadily
progressed until his recent return from San Francisco
when the tumor rapidly increased, and for the past
week he has been suffering fearfully from congestion
of the lungs which reduced his strength up to the
moment of his death. For the past few weeks he
had been fully aware of his condition, and knew he
could not survive long, but he bore his sufferings
with the courage of a soldier, and breathed his last
with calmness and resignation.
Colonel Couts was a man possessed of all
the traits of character which go to makeup the
gentleman of the old school; True, he was
impulsive but his extreme generosity and
unbounded hospitality balanced that to
more insignificance. He was quick to
resent an offense and would as quickly
forgive an enemy. No one entitled to
the slightest consideration, ever passed
Guajome without, being solicited to
partake of the royal hospitality of his
mansion. He leaves a widow and eight
children, and a large circle of friends,
who loved him dearly, to mourn
his early demise."

TREASURES OF THE FAMILY -
Submitted by V.F. Williams, Last - in the series
Do you have some to share?

This is a history of the Pearson family as was
written by my Uncle William Henry Pearson
and give to my cousin Mattie Bess-
Vivian Francis Williams.

Letter 13 - page 1 1872
(Elizabeth and Mary join church)
Warren County Ky. Dec 22 nd 1872
dear brother and family I seat myself to
drop you a pen line which leaves me and
the rest of the family enjoyin a reasonable
protion of helth hoping that thay may reach
you hand and find you all enjoyen the
same blessing father is well as could be
expected considering his age and of affliction
he staid with us last knight he's gone out to
church this evening thee coneections is we
so fare as I know john I have no news to
write times is hard and money scearce We
have had a great deal of wet wet weather
here. it has been so wet here that people
could no tend their crops I think that we
will have a splendid wheat and oat crop
Brother father and I received you kind and
welcome letter and was glad to hear from
you all and I hope you will not think hard
of us for not writing. Brother I would be
glad to see you all and I would come to
see you if I was situated tho if we never
see each other on erth I hope we will
Letter 13 page II 1872 meat
in heaven where we will part nomore
John I was blest with the privilege of tenden
a pratracted meating last february which
commenced on the first day of the month
and on the 5th when I had returned home
from meating I trust the lord met with me
and pardoned my sins and me and Mary
Beth joint the church and on the 23rd day
of february we wuz baptised and I think
hit was the greatest revival I ever saw. It
went on for about 17 days and there was
about 30 perfessions and most all joined
the church and as I have served satan
through the early part of my life I feel like
serving god the remainder of my days
S I will bring my letter to a close for
Mary wants to write a few lines to Mary
Mary all tho I never saw you I would be
glad to be with you and tell you about my
two little boys and my little girl I will send
you a bunch of my hair and their ages and
their names - Mary I want you to send me
a lock of you hair and Willies we will send
our pictures tis summer if we can
Letter 13 page 3 1872 So we will bring our
letter to a close by saying we remain your
affectionate brother and sister until death.
Write soon and often from William P. Pearson
and Mary E. Pearson to John B Pearson and Mary
Pearson Excuse Our bad writing and spelling farwell.
Letter 2 Part 1 August 30, 1874
Windsoill Madeson Co. Ark.
Dear Sister. I take my pen in hand to answer
your kind and welcome letter whitch came to
hand in dew time it found all well. We
recieved it on the 10 and I was taken sick
on the 12 and on the night of 12 Mary.
We had a darling little boy bornd to us but
his stay in this sinful world was short. He
only lived from bout mid night Wednesday
night til just before day Sunday moring he
was buried in the (unreadable) grave yard
Sunday coming. Mary he suffered O so
mutch, he was sick I think all the time after
the first day and he fretted a goodel that day.
We think it was the bold hives it had. We
never named it Mary. Eovil (blurred) loved
it so well. She clad him her little brother.
Mary it was hard to give him up but I know
he is better off and I hope to meet him in that
better world above where there is no more
Sorrow or pain. I Letter 2 part 2 1874 will
send you apeace of the lining and covering
of the coffin in apeace for fannie. I would
write to hear(meaning Her) but I wrote once
and she never answered my letter. Mary I
have got along the best kind as well as any
one could sider. I am knocking round the
house and I made up my bed this morning,
kiss Willie and the babe for me. Write soon
W.C. Moon. Mary I had one of the best
old wimin with me she is worth 2 or 3 doctors.
The following letter is on the other side of the
page. August 30 Dear Marry these few lines
is from your dear father and mother. We are
as well as common for old people. We received your
kin and verry welcome letter whitch gave us
much satisfaction to hear from you all we was
glad to hear of your getting along so well. We
are on the other hand sorry to hear
Letter 2 page 3 1874 of the failure
in the corn crop for I hear of that in many places.
It had been a bad season here. Crops is cut
short on account of the dry weather tho there
will be plenty of corn here to spare. their is
plenty of old corn here yet the people is coming
in here to by. Corn in the fields by the quantity
tree is nothing made in Bento and Washington
Countys scarcely except wheat. That was good.
Wheat was speedied here. Corn 50 cents wheat
75 cents per bushel. We will have plenty and
some to spare. I think we will have plenty of
molasses and sweet potatoes and that is good.
You know we have dryed our apples and that is
something near 4 bushels of them and have
commenct on the peaches and their will be
several bushels of them if we have luck to save
them. We have a molasses mill verry near done
to make up our crop and maiby some others.
(the following in first hand writing )
John and Mary mother sais she want

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~

FROM THE WEB PAGE GUEST BOOK

Record 117 Name: William E. Couts
(Family of Cave Couts) Referred by:
From a Friend From: Temecula Ca.
Comments: Excellent site. Thanks so
much for taking so much time to create
this. Coutswe@SCE.COM
Record 116 Name: Carleen Kautz
Stephens: Battle Ground, WA;
stephc1213@cs.com Comments:
My known Kautz lineage is as follows:
Father: Raymond V. Kautz; Grandfather:
Detlev Carl Kautz, born 11/27/1876 in
Copenhagen, Denmark, died 1957;
Great-grandfather: Fritz Kautz, born
2/15/1851 in Stelboken, Holstein, Germany.
Detlev emigrated to the US around the turn
of the century as he'd been apprenticed to an
artist in the Netherlands but had developed
what we presume was lead poisoning so
he could no longer paint. We know he
visited an uncle in Nebraska on his way
out west, but are unsure who that uncle
was. My grandpa was never very talkative
about his family, so we have no idea if he
even had brothers or sisters. Anyone out
there from a branch of my family tree????
Record 115 Name: Robert Andrew
COUTTS jarobco@hotmail.com
From: Wellington. New Zealand
Comments: Hi there from New Zealand.
My name is Robert Andrew Coutts . My
family originates from the "Shetland Islands"
two hundred miles north of Aberdeen in
Scotland. The story that my late father told
us was that there were three brothers who
set sail one day to do some fishing out from
the coast of Norway. They got swept out to
sea in a storm and were washed ashore on
the Shetlands. They settled down, got married
and raised families. Their name was spelt neither
"Khutz or Kutze and over many years changed
to what it is today---COUTTS. I would be
interested to know if there are any Coutts families
over in your part of the world with Shetland
connections. With regards Robert A. Coutts
Record 114 Name: Nellie Kautz Wilkerson
Referred by: Just Surfed On In From: Hampton,
VA Comments: My father was Frederick
Matthews Kautz, born in Hampton, Virginia
on December 5, 1898. I am the youngest of ten
girls and one boy, born to Federick's wife,
Laura Belle Merrill Kautz. Daddy's family is
originally from Germany. Could we be related? Nell
Record 113 Name: tazman ( Don Couts )
tazman@mail.webgalaxy.com Referred by:
Just Surfed On In From: San Diego Comments:
I, LIKED THE SITE. I AM THE SON OF
TOM COUTS SR. AND CAROLE LUKER.
I AM LOOKING FOR BARBARA EVANS.
LOVE YOU ALL DON COUTS
[Love you too, Don; Auntie Barb]
Record 112 Name: Tom Russell Referred by:
Yahoo! From: Kouts, Indiana Comments: Was
looking to see what was out on the web for Kouts.
Found a link to your site, and took a look-see.
Is this the same Kouts family that had a reunion
here sometime in the last 2 years? trussell@comnetcom.net
Record 110 phrolic@aol.com Referred by:
Just Surfed On In From: Hampton, Virginia -
USA Comments: Hi - I'm a native of Hampton,
VA - descendent of Fred M. Kautz, my
grandfather. His brothers were Charles and
Earl. Fred M. Kautz was born 1898 died
1964 in Hampton, VA. Buried in Parklawn
Cemetery, Hampton, VA near his brothers.
His father (my great grandfather Kautz) is in
Oakland Cemetery in Hampton, VA. He
emigrated from Germany. It is my understanding
their name was originally preceded by "Von"
but they dropped it to conform more to other
American names. My mother, Margaret Kautz
married my father (a Swede) thus the different
last name. Record 109 Name: Ross W Meguiar
Referred by: Net Search From: Winter Garden,
Florida uncleross1@aol.com
Comments: Searching for MEGUIAR history
and your name came up as a submitter.
Record 108 Name: Harvey L. Counts Website:
Counts Family History/Photos & Links From:
Sierra Madre, Ca Comments: Wonderful web
site and we Counts' must be related to Couts.
hlcounts@msn.com http://home.switchboard.com/counts

================================

ORIGIN OF THE KAUTZ NAME

In a recent correspondence, the origin
of the Couts name came up. In my research
I have seen that it means "giant owl", but this
researcher said that it was "cats". I ask for
more clarity from my researcher pals and
they sent the following:
"I've not seen just a "Kautz" name in anything
I've worked with...the name means "cat"
Subj.: Re: Origin of the Kautz name? From:
Cloudhoper (Earl Kissling) Barb, There appears
to be no direct translation into English for the
word Kautz, according to our German-English
dictionary. Your correspondent said it translated
into cat. That German word is Katze (no u) =
cat. The word Kauz(no t) or Kauze (no t) means
odd fellow, strange bird, or screech owl.
Subj: Origin of the Kautz name? From:
rtnjump@compuserve.com (Robert L. Williams)
My records show the name Kautz means
"screech owl" Barb Williams
PICTURES OF EDNA COUTS AND
NANA NANCY REED COUTS FOUND
ON THE PICTURE ALBUM PAGE